Master of Arts in English
Master of Arts in English
This track is designed for students who wish to develop advanced expertise in the methods and practices of literary scholarship. Through coursework focused on research methodologies specific to literary studies, students gain the skills necessary to analyze, organize, and present knowledge in ways that contribute to both academic and public conversations.
Tuition and Fees
Credentials
Master of Arts in English
Modality
Hybrid
On-Campus or Online
Time to Complete
2 years
What can I do with a Master of Arts in English?
• Editors
• Program managers
• Library assistants
• Digital archivists
Curriculum
Program Learning Outcomes
By the time they graduate, MA in English students will:
1. Identify and evaluate language as historically and socially constructed
2. Be prepared to organize and utilize research in variety of professional fields and civic settings
3. Analyze literature through the application of diverse critical, historical, cultural, and political lenses that recognize dynamics of identity and power in literary texts
4. Design and produce literary analyses that make research-based contributions to field of English using critical frameworks, primary sources, and secondary sources
Program Requirements
Master of Arts Degree in English: a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit, to include the following core and degree track options:
Core Courses of Study: 9 hours
Emphasis on contemporary methods and aims of literary research; special readings designed to familiarize students with a wide range of available source materials and research techniques. Required of students seeking a master’s degree in English. Open only to those students in the Master of Arts in English program. (Fall)
Major critical trends in literary theory, with emphasis on criticism since 1945, including structuralist, cultural materialist, deconstructive, and feminist approaches to literature. Exploration of these theories and analysis of selected works of literature. Required of students seeking a master’s degree in English. (Spring)
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of research design for the thesis and comprehensive exams. Students will explore research questions that make contributions to the field of literary studies. Prepares students for thesis/exam work. (Fall)
Track 1: Literary Pedagogy (online):
Purpose : To prepare students college-level teaching and public-facing education through coursework that focuses on pedagogies specific to literary studies
Possible career paths : community college teaching or instructor-level positions at four-year institutions; educational arms of nonprofits and cultural resource institutions
Core classes (6 hours):
-EN 603: Literature Pedagogies (3 hours)
-EN 604: Digital Pedagogies OR Composition Pedagogies OR Instruction of Composition OR Creative Writing Pedagogies (3 hours)
Electives (18 hours):
-EN 538: African American Vernacular English OR EN 641: English Linguistics OR EN 541: History of the English Language (3 hours)
-4 electives (15 hours)*
Masters defense (3 hours):
-EN 690: Thesis (3 hours) and 695: Thesis Defense (0 hours) OR EN 699: Directed Readings and Reearch (3 hours) and EN 696: Comprehensive Examination (0 hours)
Total: 36 hours
Track 2: Literary Research (hybrid):
Purpose : to prepare students for careers in research, editing, and publishing through coursework that focuses on research methods specific to literary studies
Possible career paths : literary editing and publishing; archival work; public-facing work for nonprofits and cultural resource institutions that requires research and/or publication
Core classes (3 hours):
-EN 606: Literary Archives OR EN 607: Publishing Practicum for Literary Studies (3 hours)
Other electives (18 hours):
-EN 538: African American Vernacular English (3 hours)
-5 electives (15 hours)
Masters defense (3 hours):
-EN 690: Thesis (3 hours) and 695: Thesis Defense (0 hours) OR EN 699: Directed Readings and Reearch (3 hours) and EN 696: Comprehensive Examination (0 hours)
Total: 36 hours
Foreign Language Requirement:
The M.A. in English requires demonstration of reading proficiency in a foreign language. Students satisfy the foreign language requirement in one of the following ways:
- by completing a second-year course sequence in a language with a 3.0 or higher, or
- by successfully completing graduate coursework in foreign language reading proficiency, or
- by the successful completion of a reading proficiency examination administered through the Department of Foreign Languages, or
- by a comparable alternative approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.
- Note: students may also take EN 538 to meet the language requirement
- Note: Literary Pedagogy students may also take EN 641 or EN 541 to meet the language requirement
- Note: Students who meet the language requirement without a 3 credit course will need another 3 credits of literature elective at 500-600 level
Capstone Thesis or Exam Hours: 3 hours
Total: 36 hours
THESIS OPTION:
Students choosing the Thesis Option must complete three (3) semester hours of EN 690: Thesis in addition to the core and 24 additional semester hours of graduate courses in English for a total of 36 hours.
THESIS PROPOSAL: Students choosing this option must submit a thesis proposal prior to enrolling in EN 689: Research.
THESIS DEFENSE: Students choosing the Thesis Option must enroll in EN 695: Thesis Defense during the term in which they complete the thesis.
Exploration of a research-based topic or project under the direction of a first and second reader. A topical thesis will include a review of pertinent literature, collection and analysis of primary and secondary literary sources, and composition of a defensible thesis. A project-based thesis will include a review of pertinent literature, design and implementation of a literature-based project, and analytical evaluation of process and outcome. A grade of “S” indicating satisfactory performance or a grade of “U” for unsatisfactory performance will be recorded on the transcript.
Orientation to and administration of a thesis defense for the MA in English program. A non-credit course required of all candidates for the thesis option. The course is to be taken in the last term in which the student is expected to complete all other program requirements. A grade of “S” indicating satisfactory performance or a grade of “U” for unsatisfactory performance will be recorded on the transcript. A grade of “S” is required for graduation; the course may be repeated once. Prerequisite: student must have completed all other program requirements or be enrolled in the last course for program completion.
NON-THESIS OPTION:
Students choosing the Non-Thesis Option must complete three (3) semester hours of EN 699: Directed Readings in addition to the core and 24 additional semester hours of graduate courses in English for a total of 36 hours.
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION: Students choosing this option must enroll in EN 696: Comprehensive Examination at the appropriate time and must successfully complete a comprehensive examination.
EN 699: Directed Readings (3)
Orientation to and administration of a written comprehensive examination for the M.A. in English program. A noncredit course required of all candidates for the non-thesis option. The course is taken the term in which the student expects to complete all other program requirements, or the term immediately thereafter. A grade of “S” indicating satisfactory performance or a grade of “U” for unsatisfactory will be recorded on the transcript. A grade of “S” is required for graduation; the course may be repeated once. Prerequisite: student must have completed all other program requirements or be enrolled in the last course(s) for program completion. (Fall, Spring)
Graduate Certificate in Teaching College English
This 12-credit graduate-level certificate is designed to provide a structured curriculum for dual-enrollment, early college teachers seeking to complete their remaining hours towards the total of 18 graduate credit hours in English required for faculty to be able to teach college-level English general education courses. The certificate may also appeal to other students preparing for a career in teaching college English courses. The certificate is comprised of the most career-oriented classes for English teachers that the English Department offers: courses in the theory of literature and composition, as well as courses in the theory and practice of teaching college-level composition and literature. All courses in the curriculum are offered online to best meet the scheduling needs of educators in the region and beyond. Required Courses: 12 hours
Course focusing on pedagogical approaches specific to teaching literature at the college level.
Exploration of digital tools and methods for teaching literature and composition in college settings.
Major critical trends in literary theory, with emphasis on criticism since 1945, including structuralist, cultural materialist, deconstructive, and feminist approaches to literature. Exploration of these theories and analysis of selected works of literature.
Theoretical foundations of composition studies and writing instruction at the college level.
Pedagogical approaches and practical strategies for teaching composition at the college level.
Total: 12 hours
Important Notes:
- This certificate does not itself qualify individuals for teaching college English. Individuals need an additional 6 graduate credit hours of English and a master's degree in English or master's degree with a concentration in English.
- SACSCOC requires the following credentials to teach college courses: "Faculty teaching general education courses at the undergraduate level: doctorate or master's degree in the teaching discipline or master's degree with a concentration in the teaching discipline (a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline)."